The 2025 edition of the Tour de France cycle race begins in the city of Lille with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard set to renew their rivalry.

The 112th Tour will take place entirely within France and features a late twist when the peloton finally arrives in Paris after a gruelling route through the Pyrenees and the Alps

Jasper Philipsen has won the opening stage of the Tour de France in a sprint to the line in Lille. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar finished safely.

The Visma-Lease a Bike team of Jonas Vingegaard were the protagonists, with several contenders for the overall classification — including Remco Evenepoel — distanced as the echelons formed. That main part of the peloton, which also contained Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, ended up losing 49 seconds to the stage winner.

Cycling fans turned out in numbers in the northern French city of Lille on Saturday (July 5) as star cyclists from around the world kicked off the Tour de France at the Grand Depart. Wimbledon Day 7: Sabalenka stands tall, Norrie survives to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

Defending champion Tadej Pogačar impresses crowd surrounding Column of the Goddess statue with comments in local language